Lilium compass

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Asiatic hybrid lily plant, particularly distinguished by its very large flowers unusual color and long persistence, both on the plant and as cut flowers. 
     It is also characterized by its regular and attractive inflorescence, the greenish/orange color of its buds, the very large flowers, its characteristic tepal spotting and the brilliant orange color of its flowers.

BACKGROUND AND GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

My new variety of lily plant is classified botanically as a Liliumhybrid, commercially as an upright Asiatic hybrid Division 1 A in theHorticultural Classification of the Genus Lilium adopted by The RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

My new variety of lily plant originated as a seedling selected from agroup of seedlings of test crosses at Bischoff Tulleken LeliecultuurB.V., Wieringerwerf, Holland.

The breeding program was initiated in 1977 and the lily plant firstflowered in 1980.

The cross was made during a breeding program having as its objective theproduction of clear gold/orange unspotted or lightly spotted, uprightflower cultivars which would perform adequately when forced into flowerunder glass throughout the year, in addition to meeting the requirementsof vigor, disease resistance and rapid natural propagation in fieldgrowth.

Cultivars were sought which would be disease resistant, virus tolerantand not overly susceptible to leaf scorch or bud abortion when forcedunder glass. The cross was made between the seed parent `ConnecticutKing` and the pollen plant was an own seedling named R.-1. Both parentsare not patented.

My new plant is characterized by rapid and natural propagation underfield conditions and by vigorous and healthy growth when forced underglass without leaf scorch and bud abortion.

My new variety of lily plant has been asexually reproduced by me atBischoff Tulleken Leliecultuur, Wieringerwerf, Holland.

Successive generations produced by bulbscale propagation and naturalpropagation from bulblets have demonstrated that the novel anddistinctive characteristics of my new variety are fixed and hold trueunder propagation from generation to generation.

THE DRAWINGS

My new variety of lily plant is illustrated in the accompanyingphotographic drawing which shows the plant, its foliage and its buds intheir various stages of development and the open bloom in full color.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of my new variety of the Asiatichybrid lily with nomenclature according to the International LilyRegister and with color designations according to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart.

The Plant

Form: Bulbous monocotyledon.

Height: Bulbs 12-16 cm in circumference produce stems: 70-90 cm (28-36")tall when forced into flower under glass; Field grown bulbs producestems: 60-80 cm (24-32") tall in their second season after scaling.

Growth: Very vigorous and strong.

Foliage: Abundant with about 80-100 leaves per stem.

Size of leaves.--8-12 cm (3.2-4.8") long, 1.0-2.0 cm (0.4-0.8") wide.

Shape of leaves.--Lanceolate.

Texture of leaves.--Leaves entire (not serrated) smooth and glossy onupper sides and lower sides.

Color of leaves.--Upperside: medium green. Underside: medium to darkgreen.

Ribs and veins of leaves.--Typical monocotyledonous venation; lightgreen parallel veins.

Stem: Green.

Inflorescence

Well spaced pyramidal raceme with ascending pedicels and no secondarybuds. Bulbs which are 12-15 cm (5-6") in circumference produce 5-7 buds.Peduncle and pedicel: Smooth and glossy. Buds are very big and a littlebit hairy (pilose). Color of inflorescence: light green with softorgange overlay.

The Buds

Size: 8-10 (3.2-4") long, 2-5 cm (0.8-2") wide.

Form: Lanceolate with obtuse tip; typical of Asiatic hybrid lilies.

Opens slowly: Opens in about one hour in response to (morning) light.Flowers further up the stem open on subsequent days over an interval of1-2 weeks.

Color of mature buds: Brilliant greenish/orange. RHS CC 26 A.

The Flower

Blooming characteristics: Flowers in midseason, late June and early Julyin The Netherlands, once, and profusely.

Flower size: Flower diameter is 15-20 cm (6-8"). Inner tepals are4.0-4.5 cm (11/2-13/4") wide. Outer tepals are 2.5-3.0 cm (3/4-1") wide.

Shape when flower first opens: Shallow bowl-shape with lightly recurvedtepal tips. Tepals recurve more as flower ages.

Tepal arrangement: Typical of the genus Lilium, with 6 entire imbricatedtepals.

Color, base of tepals: The basal color is marigold orange CC 24 A RHSchanging to a deeper orange RHS CC 26 B as flower ages.

Color, inside tepals: The inside color is RHS CC 24 B changing to RHS CC26 B when the flower ages.

Color, outer tepals: When fully opened the color is tangerine orange,RHS color code 24 B.

Color, reverse of tepals: The color of the reverse is RHS CC 24 B withorange buff midrib.

Spotting pattern: A few tiny spots, dark brown around the throat of theflower.

Tepal duration: Tepals remain on individual flower for 5-7 days, stemhas flowers with tepals adhering for about 3 weeks. Tepals fall asflower ages.

Flower texture: Not affected by hot or wet weather.

The Flower

Pedicel: Pedicel is sturdy and upright ascending at 45° angle.

Length.--5-12 cm (2-5").

Color.--Green.

Fragrance: None.

Lasting quality: Flowers remain on plants for about 2-3 weeks. Flowersremain on cut flower stem for about 2 weeks with adequate light.

The Reproductive Organs

Stamens and anthers: Typical of genus Lilium. Six versatile anthers hang(singly) from 6 narrow filaments.

Filaments: 5-6 cm (2") long and light orange.

Pollen: Reddish brown.

Pistil: 1, typical of genus Lilium. Style is 5-6 cm (2") long.

Stigma: Small, light brown reddish.

Ovary: Typical of genus Lilium. Superior, single 6 chambered ovary.

The Fruit

Fertile, capsule is oblong with 6 chambers. Color at maturity is mediumgreen to dark green, sometimes overlaid with soft purple. Fades to softbrown when fruit splits open to release seeds.

The Bulbs

Color of the bulbs: White.

Size of the bulbs: Usual commercial size is 12-20 cm (5-8") incircumference; bulbs can be grown to a larger size if this is desired.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinctive variety of Asiatic hybrid lily plant,substantially as herein shown and described characterized by:its rapidnatural propagation under field conditions; its vigorous and healthygrowth without leaf scorch, when forced under glass; its regular andattractive inflorescence; the greenish orange color of its buds; thevery big size of the buds; the very large size of its flowers; the greatwidth of its tepals, the typical character of its tepal spotting; thebrilliant orange color of its flowers; and the long life of its flowers.